The Colorado snowpack is bulging, plus here’s a toilet that doubles as a sink

155 percent: That’s how we’re quantifying how much more than average the Colorado snow pack is bulging as of last week.

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The 2013 Big Thompson Flood in Estes Park. (Kevin J. Beaty)

The 2013 Big Thompson Flood in Estes Park. (Kevin J. Beaty)

This afternoon the Colorado Water Conservation Board released their annual new years report on water in the Centennial State, which included a shoutout to a Colorado business that is reimagining the toilet. Or the sink. Or both.

But before we get you to that sweet, sweet innovation, some numbers for you:

155 percent: That’s how we’re quantifying how much more than average the Colorado snow pack is bulging as of last week. That’s great news since inter-state politics are being tested as we try to share the Colorado River with six other states.

$22,978,257: That’s how much cash has been appropriated to date since the 2013 floods. Yes, we’re still dealing with the aftermath of that “1000-year” event.

$5,000,000: That’s how much dough has been allocated to restore streams and watersheds, collected from severance taxes (based on extraction like mining and fracking).

240: How many days until the Conservation Board actually observes a new year. Apparently water people in Colorado are on their own schedule, a period that “is directly correlated with the state’s water storage” and begins on October 1st when the snow pack begins to accumulate.

4,380,000: How many gallons of water Sink Twice, the faucet-toilet combo, says they save with just 1,000 units annually. The Colorado-based company was honored by the Conservation Board’s “Innovation Highlight.” And why the heck wouldn’t they?

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